With its active fault systems, complex landforms, and myriad natural habitats, southern California boasts a rich and dynamic geologic environment. This abundantly illustrated volume at last provides an up-to-date, authoritative, and accessible resource for students and general readers interested in southern California's geology and native plants. Covering an extensive area, north from San Diego to Yosemite in the Sierra Nevada and east to the Mojave and Colorado deserts, its unique, comprehensive approach brings together for the first time the basic principles of geology, the story of plate tectonics, in-depth discussion of the geology of many specific locales within the region, and information on identifying southern California's native plants.

The genus Malacothamnus (subfamily Malvoideae, Malvaceae) is composed of fire-following shrubs primarily found in the California Floristic Province and includes many taxa of conservation concern. The genus includes 21 species and 29 minimum-ranked taxa. Here I present a revised treatment of the genus incorporating data from recent morphological and phylogenetic studies (Volumes 1 and 2). This treatment includes information on life history, a discussion and illustrations of morphological characters useful for identification, and relevant conservation information. A key to all taxa recognized in this revision is presented and followed by morphological descriptions, synonymy, common names, distribution maps, blooming period, conservation status, additional notes, and photographs.

This thoroughly revised, entirely rewritten edition of what is the essential reference on California’s diverse and ever-changing vegetation now brings readers the most authoritative, state-of-the-art view of California’s plant ecosystems available. Integrating decades of research, leading community ecologists and field botanists describe and classify California’s vegetation types, identify environmental factors that determine the distribution of vegetation types, analyze the role of disturbance regimes in vegetation dynamics, chronicle change due to human activities, identify conservation issues, describe restoration strategies, and prioritize directions for new research. Several new chapters address statewide issues such as the historic appearance and impact of introduced and invasive plants, the soils of California, and more.